Robotics in the Curriculum - Community College Class

[YAK'ker]

Our HS has offered a Robotics class for 2 years now, with mixed success. Unfortunately, our instructor is retiring and the principal is replacing our robotics/shop/drafting program with art classes.

Being a rural community with few mentoring resources, we know that without a formal structure in place (a class or a strong 4-H club nearby) our team will likely wither and die.

I have been a 4-H leader, so familiar with how that all works...we also have an offer of a space at the fairgrounds that is adjacent to our school. However, moving the club from our HS to 4-H is going to be a huge task. I don't see a lot of adult mentoring support coming forward to help.

On the heels of all this, is the fact that our HS is transitioning to a new "Expanded Options" provider, Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT.) They are actively recruiting instructors in our HS to teach classes they will offer college credit to HS students for. I am seriously thinking this may be the answer to our dilemma, offering an Introductory Robotics class may give us the students, framework and support we need.

I have been a FIRST mentor since 2007, have taken lots of undergraduate engineering courses, and have worked as an engineering technician off and on for 10 years. However, I am a HS librarian. Understandably, I'm feeling a bit intimidated about teaching the course. I would have help (as in creating the course syllabi, tests, etc.) from a math and physics teacher and would recruit all the guest speakers I can, but wondering if anyone else has been through this and can offer advice.

thanks in advance for your replies, Liz

[faust1706]

I firmly believe that FIRST's huge success is the fact that it is hands on learning, maybe you could incorporate this (even if slightly) in your class. That's all I can really give as far as input, I only took one PLTW class and slept everyday in it

[Canon reeves]

Our high school offers a class called modern manufacturing, and in it we learn how to CAD, mill, 3D print, and we work on the robot. The class only does BEST robotics, but next year hopefully it will do FIRST. For tests the instructor will have students cad a structure, or have them demonstrate their ability to mill out something. Hope this helps, best of luck with what you're doing!

[matthewdenny]

I teach a high school robotics class and can share what I have for curriculum with you. Send me a pm with an email or phone and I'll be in contact with you.